Jim Reese was born in Detroit. He earned a bachelor's from Hillsdale College in 2000 and a law degree from Capital University in 2004.

Reese interned with former U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham of Michigan in 1999. He was an assistant Ohio attorney general in 2004.

He is a managing partner and owner of a law firm in Columbus.

Reese and his family live in Gahanna.

Jim Reese says he knows what it's like to struggle and put in an honest day's work.

He grew up in Detroit and was raised by a single mom. After graduating from Hillsdale College in Michigan, he worked his way through law school at Capital University.

It was while serving as an intern on the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Immigration under former U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham of Michigan that Reese first began thinking about running for office in the future.

He worked in the Ohio attorney general's office in 2004. He was raised a Republican, but he switched parties in 2008 primarily because of the GOP-led bank bailout.

Reese opened his own law firm in Columbus that specializes in discrimination, bankruptcy and family law.

He says his experience as a small business owner has given him a better understanding of the challenges facing workers.

Reese believes more public-private partnerships are needed to assist the growth and viability of technology, medicine, renewable energy, transportation technology and local manufacturing.

He says workers and entrepreneurs need to work together to be successful.